Monthly Archives: June 2015

June 30, 1950 – The Goofy Short Film Motor Mania is Released to Theaters

“Truly, the average man is a creature of strange and unorthodox habits.”

On June 30, 1950, the Goofy short film Motor Mania was released to theaters. Since its release, it has become a favorite of many a driver’s education course. The short was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Dick Kinney and Milt Schaffer.

The short begins with a look of the average man, namely the specific average man named Mr. Walker. Walker is considered a kind, considerate man, until he gets behind the wheel of his automobile, where he becomes Mr. Wheeler instead. This Jekyll and Hyde story shows how an average man becomes a monster while driving on the highway. Wheeler holds up traffic while enjoying the sunshine, and throws a tantrum when he sits at the signal. He then competes in a road race, but ends up crashing his car into a stoplight. Wheeler continues to be a public menace, with more misfortune befalling him. When Wheeler turns back into Walker and becomes a pedestrian, he finds that many people treat him with disdain and send him flying back onto the sidewalk. Walker reads a newspaper that declares that accidents are multiplying, and once he is back in his car, he becomes Mr. Wheeler again, although he damages his car severely, needing a tow.

“Yankee Doodle! Yes folks, that was America’s first popular song, and that’s what this show is all about: America’s music.”

On June 29, 1974, the attraction America Sings opened in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, occupying the carousel theater that held GE’s Carousel of Progress after it moved to Walt Disney World. The attraction introduced to the audience the history of American music, using 100 characters to illustrate the sounds of four different eras. It was hosted by a character called Sam the Eagle, who had a variation of the song “Yankee Doodle” before each area. Sam had an owl as a co-host and a weasel as a frequent interrupting guest. The attraction closed on April 10, 1988, and many of the characters were transferred to the Riverboat scene in Splash Mountain.

June 28, 1946 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Double Trouble is Released to Theaters

“Oh, the kiss? Don’t worry – it’s beginning to work like a charm, for you.”

On June 28, 1946, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Double Trouble was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack King, with story by Roy Williams.

Donald is being lectured by Daisy over the phone, who breaks up with him. Donald, utterly destroyed, walks down the street dejected when he meets a duck that could be his twin, only speaking like Ronald Coleman. Donald struck with a plan to have the double stand in for him and help win her back for him. The double refuses, even when Donald offers him money. However, he agrees once he sees the picture of Daisy, and falls head over heels for her. Donald leads him to Daisy’s house, and the double charms Daisy off her feet. Donald soon realizes that he could lose Daisy to the smitten double, and his anger nearly gets the best of him. He follows the pair to the amusement park “for an evening of frivolity,” and starts counting the kisses and hugs between the double and Daisy. The double spots Donald spying on them, and tries to prevent Daisy from knowing the ruse. Donald spies them heading on the tunnel of love, he begs the double not to go on the ride. Finally, Donald beats up the double inside, only to come out with him on the other side, having accidentally beaten up Daisy instead. The two flee the park to escape Daisy’s wrath.

“When the Hercules – Zero to Hero Victory Parade rolled into Disney’s Hollywood Studios…it once and for all answered the question, ‘Who put the ‘glad’ in ‘gladiator’?’”

On June 27, 1997, the Hercules “Zero to Hero” Victory Parade began its run in the Disney-MGM Studios (now known as Hollywood Studios). The 14-minute parade promoted the 1997 animated feature film Hercules, featuring the characters of Hercules, Meg, the Muses, Phil, and Hades. A similar parade called the Hercules Victory Parade began in Disneyland on the same day. The parade ran until 1998, which was then replaced with a parade for the film Mulan.

“The attraction also featured visions of the aircrafts of the future.”

On June 26, 1989, the Delta Dreamflight Tomorrowland attraction opened in the Magic Kingdom. The attraction replaced If You Could Fly, being a redesigned version of the attraction that took guests through a whimsical look at the history of aviation. The attraction, sponsored by Delta Airlines, had guests boarding Omnimovers to take them through several scenes depicting important moments in flight history. In 1996, Delta ceased sponsorship of the attraction, and in 1998, it was closed. It was soon replaced with Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

On June 25, 1980, the cartoon compilation Mickey Mouse Disco was released on the Disney Channel. It was a music video containing clips from vintage Disney short films, accompanied by music from the 1979 album of the same name. Shorts used included Symphony Hour, Mickey’s Delayed Date, Clock Cleaners, Thru the Mirror, Mr. Duck Steps Out, How to Dance, The Three Caballeros, and Mickey’s Birthday Party. The five tracks from the album that were used were “Mousetrap,” “Disco Mickey Mouse,” “Macho Duck,” “Watch Out for Goofy,” and “Welcome to Rio.” The success of the program led to the creation of DTV music videos, matching classic clips with contemporary music. It was directed by Riley Thompson, with classic shorts directed by Dave Hand, Charles Nichols, Jack King, Ben Sharpsteen, Jack Kinney, and Norman Ferguson.

June 24, 1955 – The Special Short Film Aquarela do Brasil is Released to Theaters

“What happened? Where am I?”

On June 24, 1955, the special short film Aquarela do Brasil was released to theaters. It was a segment from the 1943 animated feature film Saludos Amigos, featuring the characters Donald Duck and José Carioca. It features the samba piece Tico-Tico no Fubá; it also features the titular song, written by Ary Barroso, and featuring the vocals of Aloysio Oliveira. It also features José Oliveira as Carioca.

It starts with a blank piece of paper, with an artist drawing a simple paiting of Brazil, when he splashes it with blue paint to create a waterfall. The colors continue to be added in intensity, creating singing flowers and sambaing flamingos. Many fantastic elements of Brazil are painted with the artist’s magical paintbrush. One of the flowers soon turns into Donald Duck, who sees the paintbrush paint a strange character. He takes some paint from the character’s bow tie and draws his own character, but is punished by the paintbrush, pushing him into a giant puddle. He then meets the completed character, José Carioca, who is overjoyed to meet Donald. Unfortunately, Donald doesn’t speak any Portuguese, and José is too excited to notice, but he finally switches to English, asking Donald to go see the town. José starts dancing, and Donald tries to join in, with the pair dancing through the painting. The two stop at a café, where Donald is given something he thinks is soda, but causes him to spurt out fire. José declares that Donald has the gist of the samba, and the samba begins. The pair head to several clubs within Brazil as the segment comes to a close.